David Norris (Independent)

There is no point in doing it the other way around.

On that basis I would like an update on the position regarding St. Luke's Hospital. I ask the question because of the special benefits that accrue to patients there, large numbers of whom have contacted me. There are substantial grounds in the hospital where they can have a walk, sit down, enjoy the shrubbery and so on and many of them, as well as some of the staff, have told me that is vital in terms of assisting in their recovery. I understand there are proposals to move that to St. James's Hospital, possibly into some kind of tower block. Will the situations that have been proved beneficial in the special circumstances of St. Luke's be replicated? Will people have that kind of nurturing environment or will they be stuck in some type of tower block? Is there a timescale in that regard?

Regarding my second question, I have been very impressed, as have many members of the public, by the passionate advocacy of Professor John Crown. That may not be popular with everybody but we appear to have in this man a national asset, somebody who has international experience, a clear view and is a specialist in the area of cancer. Is there any way he can be brought on board in terms of getting to grips with the area of cancer treatment? That would go a long way towards making the public believe that we were all rowing in this together. I would link that with what I said earlier this afternoon about a Tallaght strategy. All of us must fight in that regard. I said it about politicians earlier and I say it now about doctors too. I would welcome it if he could be brought on board.

Taking up what Senator O'Toole said, my third question is about cleaning. My compliments to the Minister on the way she is taking these questions and dealing with them; obviously she is somebody who is in control of the information. We may not agree with every attitude, programme and ideology but she has the facts at her fingertips.

With regard to cancer patients, when they have had chemotherapy, radiotherapy or whatever, their immune systems are often weakened. They are particularly vulnerable in terms of infection and a lack of cleanliness. Would the Minister agree that a business model is not necessarily the most efficient in this regard? Many hospitals buy hours of cleaning, which might appear good in an accountancy statement but it is inefficient. Would it not be a good idea to have dedicated in-house staff to do the cleaning on the spot when required?